Surname Sholes - Meaning and Origin

Sholes: What does the surname Sholes mean?

The surname Sholes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and likely dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century word "scol", meaning either "hollow" or "hut, shed". It may well have described either someone who lived in a hollow or lived in a hut or shed.

Alternatively, the name may derive from the Old High German "scheudz", which is akin to the Middle English word "shode", meaning shelter. It is likely that the original bearer of the name lived in or near a shelter or hut.

The existence of the Sholes name may be confirmed in early printed records of the period. Early examples of the name include Thomas Scheles in the 1270 Feet of Fines Records of Essex, and William in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. Unusually, the name appears in multiple unrelated parts of the British Isles as early as the 16th Century, indicating that it was in use by multiple families.

It was also common to find the surname written in multiple variants that were based upon early dialects and languages of Britain. Examples of the spellings used at the time include Scholes, Sholes, Scholes, Schoulis and Shoulles.

Today, the Sholes surname is most commonly found in England, and in areas of the United States where immigrants bearing the name settled in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Sholes: Where does the name Sholes come from?

The last name Sholes is most commonly found in the United States, primarily in the mid-Atlantic states, specifically Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. It is also quite common in the Great Lakes region, with sizable populations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Because of its strong roots in these areas, the name continues to spread into nearby states, such as Michigan and Kentucky.

This last name likely has its roots in 16th century England and Scotland, where the name was derived from the Old English word "sceolh," meaning "shelf." Over time, the spelling shifted and adapted to the local dialects, eventually becoming the Sholes we know today.

Sholes also has a strong presence in the early American colonies, with records indicating a number of Europeans with the name arriving in the 1700s. From New England, they spread out and settled in the area of the Mid-Atlantic. This area would see more settlers with the last name Sholes throughout the 1800s, helping shape the distribution of this name today.

Today, Sholes is a recognizable last name all across the Eastern and Central parts of the United States. It is still seen in New England to a lesser degree, as well as throughout the South. It is a testament to the longevity of the Sholes name that it is still found in these regions, centuries after its initial arrival in America.

Variations of the surname Sholes

The surname Sholes has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include: Sholes, Scholes, Sholes, Scholls, Schbold, Schoals, Schoole, Schuil, Schule, Skoel, Schooles, Shouls, Schuleys, and Schules.

Sholes is an English name of two possible origins. Firstly, it is believed to be of habitval surname which derived from the Olde English ‘sceol’ meaning ‘hut’ or ‘cottage’, as in someone who lived in a hut or cottage. Secondly, it may be of toponymic origin, deriving from places of such names as Shoal, Shool in North Yorkshire or Scholes, near Bradford, West Yorkshire.

As with many English surnames, the spelling of Sholes has evolved over time. It started off as Schole in the 1200's and then changed to Scholes, Schoals, Schoole and Schuil in the 1400's. It also took on the variant spellings of Sholes, Scholds, Schbold, Schuleys and Schules in the 1700's. Different spellings suggest that some families are related, as the spelling is often passed down through generations.

It was common for English surnames to be adopted in America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many Sholes families are believed to have emigrated to the US and Canada in this way. As such, it is possible that these variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin are all linked to the same original family. Therefore, if you have any of these surnames in your family tree, it is worth tracing your history to find out more about your ancestors.

Famous people with the name Sholes

• Julius Sholes: Civil War veteran
• Christopher Sholes: inventor of the typewriter
• Owen Sholes: One of Muddy River's first settlers
• Chris Sholes: American journalist and author
• Chad Sholes: Professional snowboarder
• C.L. Sholes: nineteenth-century Wisconsin politician
• Rufus Sholes: eighth-century Maine politician
• Leslie Sholes: prolific American painter
• Stewart Sholes: Important cheese farmer in the 1800s
• Herbert Sholes: American songwriter and composer

Other surnames

Shole